Cabinet reshuffle: May appoints women to prominent positions but not by much

In her first cabinet reshuffle, Britain’s second woman prime minister Theresa May reorganised Whitehall departments and promoted women to prominent positions in government, but did not increase the number significantly.

Only eight out of 23 positions were filled by women. The tally is slightly higher than David Cameron's cabinet which had seven out of 22 women.

Former environment secretary Liz Truss was appointed justice secretary and the first female lord chancellor. The position of lord chancellor dates back to the middle ages.

Justine Greening was appointed education secretary, moving from international development, and is the first secretary to be educated at a comprehensive school. She was also appointed minister for women and equalities

Former energy minister Andrea Leadsom, who pulled out of the race to become prime minister handing the premiership to May, was appointed environment, food and rural affairs secretary.

Leave campaigner Priti Patel was appointed the international development secretary and Karen Brady culture secretary.

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park became leader of the House of Lords, she replaced Baroness Stowell of Beeston.

The department for energy and climate change was merged with the department for business, which lost responsibility for higher education. Higher education was moved to the department of education.

In a surprise move, David Cameron’s former parliamentary private secretary Gavin Williamson was promoted to chief whip. Williamson had not previously been a member of the government.

After much speculation, Jeremy Hunt remained health secretary. Business secretary Sajid Javid was appointed communities secretary, swapping jobs with Greg Clark who was appointed business, energy and industrial strategy secretary.

Former transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin was appointed Conservative party chairman and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Prominent Brexiteer Chris Grayling was appointed Transport secretary. Damian Green, who is a board member of Remain campaign 'Stronger In', was appointed work and pensions secretary.

James Brokenshire was appointed Northern Ireland secretary, Alun Cairns stayed as Wales secretary and the party’s only MP in Scotland David Mundell stayed as its secretary.

Former Europe minister David Lidington was named leader of the House of Commons and Lord president of the council. David Gauke was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury.

On Thursday morning, May sacked the former justice secretary Michael Gove, former education secretary Nicky Morgan, culture secretary John Whittingdale and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Letwin.

Work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb, who previously stood against May for prime minister, resigned from his post, saying it was “in the best interests of my family”.

Theresa Villiers left her post as secretary for Northern Ireland. Villiers said on Facebook she was offered another role but turned it down because “it was not one which I felt I could take on”.

On Wednesday, Philip Hammond was appointed Chancellor after George Osborne was sacked. Boris Johnson was appointed foreign minister, David Davis as ‘Brexit secretary’, Liam Fox as international trade secretary and Amber Rudd as home secretary. Michael Fallon kept his job as defence secretary.